If anyone doubted the Cubs’ sense of urgency this spring, President Theo Epstein reinforced it Sunday.

The team’s decision to designate left-handed reliever Brian Duensing for assignment Sunday and likely eat the $3.5 million on his contract comes one day after the Cubs optioned 2015 first-round pick Ian Happ to Triple-A Iowa for more seasoning despite him hitting 39 home runs over the last two seasons.

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“October really starts in March,” Epstein said of the win-now mode. “In this case, every game really counts, and we like the way it feels when we go out and show what we can do and play good baseball. And we don’t like the way it feels when we play short of our expectations.

“Everyone is all in on putting our best foot forward to win in every possible way, and the players proved that with their hard work this offseason. There’s been a little bit more intensity to their work this spring. Our players want it. They’re ready to go. I wouldn’t characterize that at all as responding to a mandate. That’s something we all feel and has bubbled up from the players as much as it was articulated by words from people who push papers for a living.”

Epstein, who in December described 2019 a year of “reckoning” after the Cubs’ loss in the 2018 National League wild-card game, reinforced his faith in the likely opening-day roster as well as his trust in the bullpen depth at Triple-A Iowa.

But the renewed sense of urgency meant the Cubs couldn’t afford to carry a struggling Happ or Duensing as they did during the second half of 2018 when they failed to hold a five-game lead with 26 games left in the National League Central.

“The regular consistent playing time just wasn’t going to be there for (Happ) at the start of the season, so we made this call,” Epstein said. “It wasn’t based on spring training numbers (7-for-52 with 14 strikeouts). It’s just an overall evaluation of where he is in the process of making the adjustment we’re confident he’s ultimately going to make.”

Epstein wouldn’t divulge details of the instructions laid out for Happ to cut down on his strikeouts, but he stressed the organization hasn’t given up on him.

“Everyday at-bats will be the key to him unlocking some of those adjustments while keeping the strength that made him a first-round pick with an (.800 OPS) at 24,” Epstein said.

The Cubs have 10 days to trade, waive or release Duensing, who had a 7.65 ERA in 48 appearances in 2018 and allowed eight runs on seven hits in three innings over his last four spring appearances.

There is a strong chance Duensing could clear waivers and accept an assignment to Iowa and retain his contract instead of opting for free agency and forfeiting his salary.

“We felt (Duensing) wasn’t in a position right now to help us, and I think he’s capable of it if he gets locked in mechanically,” Epstein said.

Last season the Cubs used 23 relievers — not including five position players in blowout losses — because of injuries and ineffectiveness.

Epstein vowed the top eight relievers who will start the season at Iowa “will be the best group we’ve had there since I’ve been here.”

Among the top 16 relievers who will start the season with the Cubs and for Iowa, “I’m really confident there are at least eight pitchers in that group who are going to have good years, big-league years,” Epstein said.

“So I think it’s important for us to continue to sort of make the right calls in season.”

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Epstein delicately assessed the status of shortstop Addison Russell, who will stay in extended spring training in Arizona when the Cubs leave for Texas after their exhibition finale Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Russell is following guidelines set under terms of baseball’s domestic-violence policy. Russell remains under suspension as he completes the final 28 games of his 40-game suspension.